The
Blackburn Community Association (BCA) held its annual
general meeting Thursday night and the main topic of discussion
was the recent drive-by shooting in a townhouse development
on Innes Road that sent one man to hospital.

The
incident happened shortly after midnight on Jan.15. The
victim was asleep in bed when he was struck in the leg
by a bullet that had passed through an exterior wall.
The victim's wife and children were also home at the time
of the shooting.

Two
suspects, a 46-year-old woman and an underage male, were
arrested on Wednesday and charged with multiple weapons-related
offenses.

Four
members of the Ottawa Police Service including an inspector
and a sergeant who lives in the community, were invited
to the AGM to give members an update of the shooting and
subsequent arrest, and allay concerns about public safety.

According
to preliminary information gleaned since the arrests were
made, there is no connection between the suspects and
the owners of the home targeted in the drive-by shooting.
In fact, the home wasn't even their intended target.

Despite
the fact that it was the second drive-by shooting in the
development in the past four years, the police assured
the Community Association meeting that Blackburn Hamlet
remains a "safe area" compared to other suburban
neighbourhoods in the city.

During
the past three years, the Ottawa Police Service has responded
to 472 calls, 80 of which were for mischief and grafitti,
that remaining 392 calls ranged from drug-related offences
to home break-ins. That's just over one incident per month.

Sgt.
Brad Hampson, who has lived in the community most of his
life, took the time to remiind residents that they can
play an important role in the fight against crime by being
more observant and calling in any suspicious activity
they see.

In
other words, if you see something, say something, says
BCA president Laura Dudas.